Josh O'Brien
![]() O'Brien playing for Salford in October 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Joshua Manfred O'Brien | ||
Date of birth | (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21) | ||
Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Indy Eleven | ||
Youth career | |||
20??–2020 | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
2020–2021 | De Anza Force | ||
2021–2022 | Watford | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022–2023 | Salford City | 2 | (0) |
2022–2023 | → Telford United (loan) | 10 | (1) |
2023–2024 | Hamilton Academical | 8 | (0) |
2024– | Indy Eleven | 19 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:47, 5 August 2024 (UTC) |
Joshua Manfred O'Brien (born 7 February 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club Indy Eleven.
Early life
O'Brien was born in Dublin, but moved to the United States at ten weeks old due to a change in his father's job.[1] O'Brien's father is Irish and his mother, Nicole, is German.[1] O'Brien has four brothers; Aran represented Santa Clara University and Ethan played for the University of Notre Dame.[1] O'Brien was educated at Eastside Catholic in Washington state and Archbishop Mitty in California.[1]
Career
Youth career
O'Brien began his career with the Crossfire academy, though moved to Northern California to join developmental team De Anza Force in 2020.[1] He attended the University of Washington, but in 2021 put his studies on hold to join English Premier League club Watford on a one-year contract (with the option of a further year) following a successful trial.[1] O'Brien had been recommended to the club by the brother of Northern Ireland international George Saville.[1] O'Brien was released by Watford in the summer of 2022 and joined the development squad at Salford City of EFL League Two.[2]
Professional career
O'Brien made his senior debut for Salford on 30 August 2022, playing the full ninety minutes of a 2–1 win over Liverpool U21 at Moor Lane,[3] and his first league start came against Northampton Town, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at Sixfields.[4] On 12 December he joined Telford United on loan.[5]
O'Brien joined Scottish League One side Hamilton Academical in August 2023, making 10 total appearances for the South Lanarkshire club.[6]
On 1 February 2024, Indianapolis-based club Indy Eleven announced the signing of O'Brien ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season.[7] The USL Championship club's owners had been interested in signing O'Brien since he joined Watford's development squad in 2021.[8] O'Brien made his first appearance with the Eleven in their 2–1 season opening defeat against Oakland Roots as a substitute in the 75th minute, replacing Younes Boudadi.[9] O'Brien scored his first goal for the Eleven on 1 June in a 2–1 away win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[10]
Personal
O'Brien's brother, Ethan O'Brien, is also a professional footballer. Ethan joined his brother at Indy Eleven in 2024.[11]
Career statistics
- As of match played 2 August 2024.
Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Salford City | 2022–23[12] | EFL League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Telford United (loan) | 2022–23 | National League North | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
Hamilton Academical | 2023–24 | Scottish League One | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Indy Eleven | 2024 | USL Championship | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
Career total | 39 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
- ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Leventhal, Adam (6 August 2021). "Josh O'Brien, the Irish-American who went on trial at Watford and ended up winning a pro deal". The Athletic. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Josh O'Brien". Salford City Football Club. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "EFL Trophy (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (20 December 2022). "Kevin Wilkin hoping Telford loanee will be success". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Josh O'Brien joins AFC Telford United on loan". Salford City Football Club. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ McGilvray, Andy (2023-08-05). "Hamilton Accies boss not finished in transfer market despite double signing". Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Indy Eleven Announces Addition of Defender Josh O'Brien". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ Healy, Tommy. "Irish American defender Josh O'Brien signs with USL Championship team Indy Eleven". extratime.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- ^ "Recap - OAK 2:1 IND". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- ^ "RECAP - PIT 1:2 IND". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ "Indy Eleven Announces Signing of Notre Dame Standout Ethan O'Brien". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "Games played by Josh O'Brien in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
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- 0 Sulte
- 1 Oettl
- 2 J. O'Brien
- 3 Stanley
- 5 Chapman-Page
- 6 Lindley
- 7 Henderlong
- 8 Blake
- 9 A. Williams
- 10 R. Williams
- 12 Sanchez
- 13 Guenzatti
- 14 Quinn
- 15 Diz
- 16 Wootton
- 18 Collier
- 20 Mines
- 21 E. O'Brien
- 22 Gibson
- 24 Vostal
- 30 Ofeimu
- 32 Chavarria
- 34 Schneider
- 37 Neidlinger
- 39 Ivetic
- 41 Musa
- 42 Martínez
- 44 King
- 46 Crawford
- 55 McCoy
- 99 Foster
- Head coach: McAuley
- Assistant coach: Rogers
- Assistant coach: Presser
- Goalkeeper coach: Swift
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